As serious-minded students progress in their training, the amount of time required in the studio increases exponentially. Like any other athletic endeavor, dance requires many, many hours in the studio practicing to achieve mastery of the steps. It is nearly impossible to maintain a conventional school schedule and to put in all of the studio time needed. Focused dancers who struggle to balance classes, rehearsals, and performances with school work and home life will flourish in the GWDC Professional Division.

It will be necessary for students in the Professional Division to either arrange for early release from their conventional school, to home school or to attend the Greater Washington Academy at GWDC. By doing this, the conventional school day is reduced from seven hours to four allowing for the necessary time to train in the afternoon. Dancers will take advanced level classes in ballet, modern, jazz, pointe and repertory. They will receive teacher training and classes in dance pedagogy. They will be given the opportunity to assist in lower level dance classes and also in our Adaptive Dance program. They will rehearse for performances with the Festival Ballet Virginia. They will be given opportunities to participate in dance festivals, masterclasses and field trips. All of their training will be between the hours of 12:30PM and 5:00PM Monday through Friday.

Imagine being able to attend a scholastic program in the morning, train/rehearse in the afternoon, and still have free time in the evening!

Dancers in the Professional Division will have approximately 15 hours of technique classes, 5 hours of rehearsals and 11/2 hours of seminars each week. The cost for the Professional Division will be $550 per month for dancers in the Greater Washington Academy academic program and $650 per month for dancers who are not in the GWAcademy.

Dancers training at this intensity will see an enormous jump in their technical level. With a commitment to hard work and the dedication to their training, the dancers will most certainly be able to continue their training at the college/university level and be well on their way to any number of careers in dance - teachers, choreographers, professional dancers, dance therapists or studio owners to name a few.